Side frame



Aug. 26, 1930. D. s. BARROWS SIDE FRAME Filed May 29, 1928 Donald S. Barrows Patented Aug. 26, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DONALD S. BABBOWS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO THE GOULD COUPLER COMPANY, OF DEPEW, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF IABYLAND SIDE FRAME Application flle'd Kay 29, 1923. Serial in. 281,463.

' thereof.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is the construction of side frames for railway trucks in which the compression members thereof are generally inverted U-shape in cross section and in which those portions on opposite sides of the bolster opening are approximately straight on top and concavely curved along the lower edges of the flanges thereof, said lower edges being reinforced by ribs ex tending inwardly toward each other for modifying the normal position of the neutral axis and causing it to extend substantially straight.

Another object of my invention is to construct a side frame for railway trucks in which the compression member thereof is rigidified and the metal therein more economically distributed by the addition of metal, preferably in the form of ribs, to the extremities of the flanges of said member on the inside of the section, thereby shifting the neutral axis from the position it would normally occupy, so that it is a straight or approximately straight line.

A further object of my invention is to provide a side frame for-railway trucks in which the compression member thereof is generally inverted U-shape in cross section and the portions of which between the bolster opening and the ends of the frame are nerally straight on top, with depending anges, the lower edgesof which are concavely curved downwardly and reinforced by inwardly extending ribs increasing in strength from the ends toward intermediate portions thereof for modifying the normal position of the neutral axis and causing it to extend straight, or approximately so, intermediate portions of said ribs being alternatively connected by a tie to further rigidifysaid flanges and prevent buckling thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a partial side elevation of a side frame with a portion broken away showing one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figure 1, with a portion of the web of the compression member removed to more clearly show the reinforcing ribs.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional-view of the compression member on the line 3-3 of F i re 2.

igure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view corresponding to Figure 1, but showing a modification.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan View corresponding to Figure 2 but showing the form of my invention illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and first considering the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, a side frame 1 is illustrated comprising a compression member 2, a tension member 3 and bolster guide columns 4 spacing intermediate portions of said.

compression and tension members and leaving a window opening 5 therebetween. Those portions of the compression and tension members beyond the window opening 5 extend outwardly and preferably slope toward each other to merge adjacent the ends of said frame as indicated at 6. The ends of the frame 1 may be formed with jaws 7 and 8, extending downwardly for embracing associated journal boxes (not shown) or integral journal boxes (not shown) may be provided-atthe ends of said frame, as will be understood. Although I have illustrated a frame of the type described and claimed in my Patent #1,652,808 'of December 13, 1927, generally referred to as a double truss side frame becauseof the auxiliary truss or tension portions 9 which cut across the lower corners of the bolster opening 5, yet, as will be obvious, I do not wish to be limited to the embodiment of my invention in such a frame, as the same may be employed with any other type of side frame and particularly such frames in which the compression member is formed with a web and flanges on opposite sides thereof.

In the present embodiment of my invention,'the compression member 2 is formed generally inverted U-shape in cross section, that is, it has a web 10 and flanges 11 dependin from opposite side edges of said web. hat portion of the compression member between the bolster guide columns 4 is enerally straight and normally horizontal.

hose portions outside of or beyond the bolster o ning 5 between said guide columns and the junctions with the tension member 3 slope downwardly and outwardly in the present embodiment, the web 10, however, being preferably strai ht as illustrated and the lower edges of the epending flanges being curved concavely downward. If said edges were formed without reinforcements or were formed with merely the usual outstanding beading 12 extending therealon and formed of uniform strength, the neutra axis of said member would curve in the same direction as said edges whereby, u on the application of force to the frame, a nding moment would be applied to said compression member in addition to the normal compressive force, whereby abnormal strains would be im osed thereon.

To avoid t e eccentric a plication of loads to the compression mem er and cause the neutral axis thereof between the guide columns 4; and the junctions with the tension member to extend straight or a proximately so, I provide inwardly exten 'ng ribs 13, preferably disposed ad acent the lower edges of said compression member. Said ribs in the preferred embodiment illustrated taper from approximately midway between the bolster guide colmns 4 and the junctions with the tension member 3 in both directions to finally merge into the flanges 11 adjacent ,the ends of said ribs 13. As illustrated, it

will be seen that said ribs preferably merge into the flanges 11 of the com ression member adjacent the correspon 'ng junction with the tension member at one end and the ad'acent bolster guide column at the other on This construction results in neutralizing the effect of the curvature of the lower edges of the compression member flanges 11 and drawin the neutral axis of said compression mem r from its otherwise normall curved position into, a straight position tween each bolster uide column and the adjacent end ofthe rame. Of course this only affects the neutral axis of the compression member between the bolster guide ends of said portion.

columns and the junctions of the tension member, said neutral axis bein represented approximately by the dot and ash lines 14. Referrin now to the embodiment of my invention i lustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6, a construction is there disclosed which corresponds with that of the first embodiment, except that the innermost or strongest portions of the reinforcing ribs 13 on the lower edges of the depending flanges 11 of the compression member 2 of the side frame 1 are connected by a tie 15 which additionall reinforces the compression member at sue points and avoids buckling by roviding a transverse brace for the free or ower ed es of the compression member flanges 11. x-

cept as specifically described in connection with the present embodiment, the same may correspond with that of the first embodiment.

From the foregoing description of my invention, taken in connection with the accom pan ing drawin s, it will be seen that I have devised a side rame in which the top line of the compression member thereof is straight from the journal box or journal box connecting ortion of the frame to a point near the adjacent guide column. The. bottom line, as is usual, is curved concavely downward from the column to the point of mergence with the adjacent end of the tension member. If uniform thickness of metal were maintained along this part of the compression member the neutral axis would curve slightl in accordance with the curvature ofthe ower edges of the flanges, because the compression member would be shallower at the middle point than at the In accordance with my invention metal is added to the extremities of the flan es on the inside of the section instead 0 by increasing the outside bead, thereby shifting theneutral axis from the position it would occupy in a section not thus reinforced, so that regardless of the slight curve of the flanges, the neutral axis is a straight line, or approximately so, as indicated at 14. As an alternative the reinforcing ribs 13 may be connected by a tie at substantially the midpoints thereof, thereby preventing buckling of the flanges by reduclng the length of the unsupported portions thereof. V

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

. 1. A truck side frame comprising a member formed generally U-shape in cross section with a straight web portion and flanges extending from the edges thereof, the free edges of said flanges being concavely curved and reinforced by ribs extending along the inside thereof, said ribs varying in strength.

to cause the neutral axis of said member to extend approximately straight.

2. A truck side frame comprising a member formed with a Web and flanges extending from the edges thereof, the free edges of said flanges being concavely curved, and reinforcing ribs extending along the inside thereof, said ribs tapering from intermediate portions toward their ends to cause the neutral axis to extend approximately straight.

3. A truck side frame comprising compression and tension members, said members extending outwardly and joined to each other at the ends thereof, those portions of the compression member adjacent the junction between said members being formed with a generally straight web and depending flanges on opposite sides thereof, the lower edges of said flanges being concavely curved, whereby the neutral axis of said member would normally curve in the same direction, and ribs extending along the in side of said flanges-adjacent said free edges to cause the neutral axis of said member to extend approximately straight.

4. A truck side frame comprising compression and tension members extending outwardly and joined together at their ends, said compression member being formed generally inverted U-shape in cross section with an upper web and depending flanges on either side thereof, those portions of said compression member adjacent the junctions with the tension member being generally straight ontop with the lower edges of the flanges curved concavely downward, and ribs extending inwardly toward each other from said free-edges, said ribs increasing in strength toward their intermediate portions to modify the position of the neutral axis so that it extends approximately straight. v

5. A truck side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member, bolster guide columns spacing intermediate portions of said compression and tension members and spaced apart to leave a bolster opening, those portions of the compression and ten.- sion members on either side of the bolster opening converging and uniting together adjacent the ends of the frame, said compression member between thebolsterguide columns and the junctions with the tension member being formed with a generally straight upper web and depending flanges on either side thereof, the lower edges of said flanges being curved concavel downward and reinforcing ribs along t e inner sides of said flanges for overcoming the effect ofv the curving of said flanges and causing the neutral axis of said member to extend approximately straight.

6 A truck side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member, bolster guide columns spacing intermediate portions of said compression and tension members leaving a bolster opening therebetween,

those portions of the compression and tension members on either side of the bolster opening converging and finally uniting together adjacent the ends of the frame, said compression member between the bolster guide columns and the junctions with the tension member being formed with a (generally straight upper web and depen ing flanges on either side thereof, the lower edges of said flanges being curved concavely downward, and reinforcing ribs extending along the inner sides adjacent the free edges thereof, said ribs tapering from their ends to a maximum adjacent the intermediate portions thereof for overcoming the effect of the curving of the edges of said flanges and causing the neutral axis of the member to extend approximately straight.

7. A truck side frame comprising a member formed generally U-shape in cross 'section with a straight web portion and flanges extending from the edges thereof, the free edges of said flanges being curved and reinforced by ribs extending along the free edges thereof, said ribs Varying in depth to cause the neutral axis of said member to extend approximately straight.

8. A truck side frame comprising a member formed with a web and flanges extending from the edges thereof, the free edges of said flanges being concavely curved, and reinforcing ribs extending along the inside thereof, said ribs tapering from intermediate portions toward theirs ends to cause the neutral axis to extend approximately straight, the intermediate portions. of said ribs being joined by a tie to further rigidify the construction.

9. A truck side frame comprising compression and tension members, said members extending outwardly and joined to each other at the ends thereof, those portions of the compression member adjacent the junction between said members being formed with a generally straight web and depending flanges on opposite sides thereof, the lower edges of said flanges being curved, whereby the neutral axis of said member would normally curve in the same direction, and ribs extendin along said flanges adjacent said free e ges to cause the neutral axis of said member to extend approximately straight, registering portions of said flanges being joined by a tie member.

10. A truck side frame comprising compression and tension members extending outwardly and joined together at their ends, said compression member being formed generally inverted U-shape in cross section with an upper web and depending flanges on either side thereof, those portions of said compression member adjacent the junctions with the tension member being generally straight on top with the lower edges of the flanges curved concavely downward, and

ribs extending inwardly toward each other from said free edges, said ribs increasing in strength toward their intermediate portions to modify the position of the neutral axis so that it extends approximately straight, the strongest portions of said ribs being extended toward each other to form a connecting tie.

11. A truck side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member, bolster guide columns spacing intermediate portions of said compression and tension members and spaced apart toleave a bolster opening, those portions of the compression and tension members on either side of the bolster opening converging and uniting together adjacent the ends of the frame, said compression member between the bolster guide columns and the junctions with the tension member being formed with a generally straight upper web and depending flanges on either side thereof, the lower edges of said flanges being curved concavely downward and reinforcing ribs along the inner sides of said flanges for overcoming the effect of the curving of said flanges and causing the neutral axis of said member to extend approximately straight, and ties connecting intermediate portions of said ribs.

12. A truck side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member, bolster guide columns spacing intermediate portions of said compression and tension members leaving a bolster opening therebetween, those portions of the compression and tension members on either side of the bolster opening converging and finally uniting together adjacent the ends of the frame, said compression member between the bolster guide columns and the junctions with the tension member being formed with a generally straight upper web and depending flanges on either side thereof, the lower edges of said flanges being curved concavely downward, reinforcing ribs extending along the inner sides adjacent the free edges thereof, said ribs tapering from their ends to a maximum adjacent the intermediate portions thereof for overcoming the effect of the curving of the edges of said flanges and causing the neutral axis of the member to extend approximately straight, and cross ties-connecting those portions of the ribs of maximum strength.

13. A truck side frame comprising a member connected to other members and formed with a web and flanges on the edges of said web,the free edges of said flanges being reinforced by ribs extending along intermediate portions thereof, said ribs gradually increasing in transverse dimension in a direction substantially parallel to said web from the ends to adjacent a point midway between the points of connection with other members for improving said strength of the member.

141. A truck side frame comprising compression and tension members, said members extending outwardly and joined to each other at the ends thereof, those portions of the compression member adjacent the junctions between said members being formed with a generally straight web and depending flanges from opposite edges thereof, the lower edges of said flanges being formed with ribs extending inwardly toward each other and tapering gradually from their ends, where they merge into the flanges, to intermediate portions of maximum strength, said intermediate portions opposite one another being joined by tie webs for improving the strength of said compression member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DONALD S. BARROWS. 

